The newest Blue Jacket, acquired earlier in the week from the Philadelphia Flyers, was in Chicago when news of the trade broke and he's about to head out west in the coming days. He hasn't had time to visit his new home and find a place to live, but checking out Columbus is his top priority once the next couple of weeks settle down.

One of the items on Hartnell's to-do list was to select a jersey number, and after some deliberation, he took perhaps an unexpected direction with his choice.

Hartnell confirmed today that he will wear No. 43 for the Blue Jackets, a rare number but one that he's pretty excited to sport on the union blue sweater. Other names to have worn 43 for Columbus? Sean Collins, Jan Caloun, David Ling and Max Mayorov have donned it, to name a few.

"Coming to a new city, a new team and with a fresh start, why not change it up?" Hartnell told BlueJackets.com. "I looked at a couple of different numbers but 43 was the one I wanted to go with.

"I've joked with Jody (Shelley) that 43 is the age I want to play until, so it fits perfectly with that, and I'm really looking forward to some great years in Columbus."